co-parenting

QUESTION

When you are parenting after a divorce, you are working within a situation that is certainly not your ideal. You may not be able to change that overall structure, but there are many small things you can do that will make the situation easier and happier for everyone.

It's to be expected that you and your ex are going to have some disagreements as you continue to parent your children together. You can solve problems on your own and avoid the revolving courtroom door. Follow these tips:

Whether your child spends most of his or her time at your home, or at the other parent's home, you probably want to be informed and stay involved with your child's education. Unfortunately, many schools make this a challenge.

A custody order is not a declaration, condemnation, or reward about the parents' abilities, personalities, or lifestyles. It doesn't determine who is the "good" parent and who is the "bad" parent. A custody order is a method of organizing your lives so that your child has one home and has time to spend with each parent.

If you or your ex are relocating, you know it is going to be hard for your child to stay close to the non-residential parent. However, as the residential parent, there are many things you can do to encourage them to interact and many ways to provide support during this difficult adjustment.

The girlfriend. She strikes terror in the heart of divorced mothers everywhere. When your ex gets a girlfriend it's challenging enough to deal with your own emotions, but when the girlfriend is suddenly a big part of your child's life, it's hard to know how to react.

There are some non-custodial parents who either skip visitation or think it should revolve around their lives. Dealing with these situations can be challenging. Setting limits will help you and your child cope better with the situation and take the guesswork out of visitation.